Folding bed or couch.



E. GREGORY.

FOLDING BED 0R COUCH.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 27, 1911.

Patented July 16, 1912.

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W INVENTOR M WITNESSES E. GREGORY.

FOLDING BED 0R 00mm.

APPIJIOATION FILED OUT. 27, 1911. 1,032,541 Patented July 16, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PLANODRAPH cu., WASHINGTON, D. c.

TINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE GREGORY, OF MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T0 NATIONAL FRESH AIR FURNITURE COMPANY, OF RENO, NEVADA, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA.

FOLDING BED OR COUCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE GREGORY, of Michigan City, in the county of Laporte and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds or Couches: and. I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improvement in folding beds or couches of the type shown in my application Serial Number 620,903 filed April 13, 1911.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a bed or couch which can be readily adjusted to support the occupant in either a reclining or sitting posi tion and which can be readily folded and stored in a small space.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction so that when folded it will not be liable to tilt over.

In. the drawingsFigure 1 is a side view of the bed or couch extended. Fig. 2 is a detail View of one section of the bed showing it adjusted to reclining position. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the couch adjusted to sitting position. Fig. 41 is a side view of the couch folded. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an end view thereof. Fig. 7 is a side view of Fig. 4-.

The bed or couch frame comprises a body portion preferably formed of two opposite similar sections; each having opposite side bars 1, and an end bar 1 which may be connected to the outer ends of the side bars 1, by any suitable means. The adjacent inner ends of the bars 1, of the two sections, are connected by hinges 2, preferably secured to the underside of the bars 1, so that the frame may be folded as in Fig. 41:.

Each section of the frame is supported on two pairs of legs 3 pivoted at their upper ends to the side bars 1. The opposite legs in each pair are connected by bars 3 The adjacent legs 3, at each side of each section of the bed, are connected by means of links 3 which are pivotally connected to the legs so that such legs will swing together, during either the extension or folding of the frame. The innermost pair of legs 3 attached to each section are also connected by braces 3 to the bars 1 of the adjacent sectlon. Each brace 3" is pivoted at its lower Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 27, 1911.

Patented July 16, 1912.

Serial No. 657,102.

end to a leg 3, and at its upper end to the side bar 1 of the frame section opposite that to which the leg is attached; consequently when the frame is extended the braces 3" cross each other, and form a practically rigid X-brace between the inner bar or legs 3 at each side of the bed, see Fig. 1.

The frame may be covered with a mattress or cover of any desired kind. I preferably use the novel spring fabric which forms the subject-matter of an application filed by me June 12, 1911, Serial Number 632,721, such fabric being composed principally of rings 1. and wire springs 5. It is unnecessary in practice to extend such spring-fabric the entire length of the couch frame, it being sufficient if it extends under such portions of the mattress as will be subjected to the weight of the person lying thereon; therefore, I have shown parts of the cover indicated at 5") formed like an ordinary wire mattress fabric. I also preferably use at the center of the couch, helical springs 7, which extend across the coyer in line with the hinges 2, the outermost springs 7 being connected to the inner ends of the bars 1, of the same section of the frame. IVith this construction when the frame is extended the spring cover lies flat, smooth and tautwithout any excessive strain upon the members of the frame, such as would tend to distort the latter.

As thus far described. the bed is constructed substantially as stated in my afore said application and I will now describe the improvements wherein the present invention resides.

I provide the main frame with an auxiliary mattress supporting and adjusting frame which may be formed in any suitable manner; As shown, auxiliary side bars 1 and auxiliary end bars 1 are secured to the upper sides of the bars of the right-hand section of the frame; and short auxiliary side bars 1 are secured to the upper side of the bars 1 of the left-hand member of the frame. As shown in Fig. 1 auxiliary side bars 1 are hinged at 1 to the outer ends of auxiliary bars l and the outer ends of bars 1 are connected by a cross piece or bar 1". The adjacent end of the spring cover or mattress isattached to the sect-ions 1 and end bar 1 as shown in Fig. 5. This enables the end of the mattress to be raised or lowered, independently of the main fram either to a reclining position as shown in Fig. 2, or to a sitting position as shown in Fig. 3. The hinged sections 1 and bar l may be braced by corner straps I as indicated in the drawings.

To the bar 1, adjacent the bar 1 are pivotally connected a pair of legs 1 by brackets 1; legs 1 are rigidly connected by a cross bar P; the pivots 1 enable the legs 1 to be folded inside of the frame and beside the bars 1, (see Fig. or they may be dropped to the position indicated in Fig. 2, so as to support that end of the mattress in an inclined (reclining) position; or when raised to the position shown in Fig. 3, the legs 1 may rest upon the upper ends of the legs 3, or lugs 1 to hold the end of the mattress in sitting position, Fig. 3. By adjusting the legs 1 to different points of support, the ends of the mattress or cover can be held in various positions intermediate the sitting and reclining positions.

Another feature of the invention is the peculiar construction of the outermost pairs of legs 3, which instead of being straight, as in my aforesaid application are L-shaped, being preferably formed of angle-iron and having outwardly extending horizontal por tions 3 on their lower ends, and the rollers 3 are attached to the outer ends of the portions 3 These L-shaped legs give the bed when folded a wider base, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that it will not be apt to tilt over; and when the two sections of the main frame are so folded together they can be fastened by hooks (3.

lVhen it is desired to fold the bed the operator lifts the central portion of the bed, which immediately breaks at the hinges 2, and the end bars 1 begin to drop and the inner pairs of legs 3 rise off the floor and begin to move toward each other, and at the same time all the legs begin to swing toward the bars 1; such folding movements of the legs being caused by the pivotally-connected rods 3 3. hen the swinging end of the frame is closed the legs 1 lie between the bars 1 as indicated in Fig. 5. The entire frame, with the spring cover folds very compactly as indicated in Fig. i of the drawings. lVhen thus folded the bed is supported upon the outermost Lshaped legs 8 and can be readily moved on the rollers on said legs to any desired position.

It will be seen that such bed or couch is very strongly braced when extended; it can be adjusted to various diflerent positions; can be conveniently folded into small space; and can be very readily transported.

It will be observed that this bed has practically a double frame, at least at the end of the couch where the moving sections 1,

1", to which one end of the cover is attached, are employed; but it is obvious that the swinging or adjustable parts 1, l 1 1 which form the head and back support (in the reclining position Fig. 2 or sitting posi tion Fig. 3) may be at either end of the couch, or at both ends. In practice the wire fabric or cover may be covered or faced with matting or other suitable material M, to give a more finished appearance to the couch.

What I claim is:

1. In a folding bed or-couch the combination of adjacent main frame sections hingedly connected at their inner ends and adapted to be folded by lifting their inner ends and allowing their outer ends to drop and move toward each other; with an auxiliary frame section hinged to the upper side of one of the main sections, and a cover or mattress having one end attached to said auxiliary hinged section, whereby it may be adjusted independently of the main section.

2. In a bed or couch the combination of a frame composed of similar sections hinged at center, pairs of legs pivotally connected to and supporting said sections, the outermost legs having outwardly projecting extensions on their lower ends, affording an extended base support-for the couch when folded.

3. In a folding bed or couch the combination of a main frame composed of similar main sections, hinges connecting said sections at their inner ends, an auxiliary frame section hinged to the upper side of one of the main sections, a cover connected to the upper side of the frame and to said auxiliary section, and legs pivotally connected to said auxiliary frame section and adapted to support it in adjusted positions relative to the main frame, substantially as described.

i. A folding bed or couch comprising a main frame composed of opposite similar main sections, hinges connecting the sections at their inner ends, pairs of legs connected to said sections, the outermost legs being provided with outwardly extending projections on their lower end to increase the wheel EUGENE GREGORY.

Witnesses i H. H. CARVER, DONALD GREGORY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

